Telegraph Travel Awards 2012: readers' favourite travel companies

With roots dating back to 1840, when Sir Samuel Cunard started scheduled
crossings between New York and Southampton, Cunard has become synonymous
with British history and heritage, so it is little surprise that it sailed
ahead of Celebrity Cruises and P & O Cruises to take first place in this
category.

The very name “Cunard” sums up a cruising world of formality and impeccable
service that has mostly gone but which many hanker after, but conversely
also stands for modern big-ship cruising. Cunard’s current three Queens were
launched between 2004 and 2010 and, at 151,400 tons, Queen Mary 2 is the
world’s biggest ocean liner.

A transatlantic crossing on Queen Mary 2 is still the must-do voyage on every
cruiser’s hit list, and has attracted a host of celebrities – as passengers
and guest speakers – keen to make the journey between Britain and the United
States. Indeed, it is so popular that Cunard has even slowed the crossing
time, partly to cut back on fuel costs, but also because it gives passengers
more time to enjoy the trip.

Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth also have their fond followers, and are
especially popular as, like Queen Mary 2, they sail from the UK, cutting out
the need to fly and allowing folk to take as much of that all-important
formal gear as they wish.